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Football Announces 2007 Schedule
Feb. 20, 2007 ORONO, Maine - Five home games and a showdown at I-A and Big East-opponent Connecticut highlight the 2007 University of Maine football schedule, which was released on Tuesday morning. The highlight of the home schedule will be a meeting with I-AA national runner-up Massachusetts on Sept. 22. Game times are still to be determined. "We are very excited about our 2007 schedule," said head coach Jack Cosgrove, who will be entering his 15th season at the helm of the program in 2007. "We have two home games in September which should draw large crowds and create a great environment for our kids to play in front of. Our league has a new title this season (Colonial Athletic Association), but it's still the same faces so each conference game will be a good contest. We play Connecticut which is a I-A opponent and a regional game for our fans to travel to." The season kicks off on Sept. 1, when the Black Bears play host to Monmouth at Alfond Stadium. It marks the first time since the 2003 campaign that Maine will open the season at home. Monmouth is a member of the Northeast Conference and was crowned the I-AA Mid-Major National Champions by The Sports Network in 2004. Maine is 8-1 all-time against current members of the NEC, with its last win coming by a 31-7 count over Albany back on Oct. 1, 2005, in Portland, Maine. The Black Bears will take to the road the following week (Sept. 8) when they travel to Storrs, Conn., to face Connecticut at Rentschler Field. It marks the fourth-straight season Maine will face a I-A foe. The Black Bears are 1-4 all-time against I-A opponents, including a 9-7 win at SEC-foe Mississippi State during the 2004 season. The game will the latest chapter in a series between the two schools, which faced each other annually as members of the Yankee and Atlantic 10 Conferences from 1947-99 (UConn made the jump to I-A prior to the 2000 season). Connecticut leads the all-time series by a margin of 37-30-3. Maine will travel for a second-straight week on Sept. 15, when the Black Bears take on Villanova in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both schools. Maine leads the all-time series by a count of 7-5, including a 20-7 victory back on Oct. 14 of last season at Alfond Stadium. The Black Bears return home the following week on Sept. 22, as they will play host to the Minutemen, who are the defending conference champions. UMass, who advanced to last season's I-AA national championship game before falling to Appalachian State, has won five straight in the series, including a 10-9 win over Maine back on Nov. 11 of last season. Following a bye on Sept. 29, Maine takes to the road on Oct. 6 for the first of two trips to Long Island with the first meeting coming against Hofstra. Hofstra leads the series by a count of 9-5, but the Black Bears won last season's meeting by a score of 21-10 at Alfond Stadium. Maine returns home Oct. 13 for a game with William & Mary, marking the Tribe's first game in Orono since the 2002 season when the Black Bears pulled out a 27-14 victory. Maine trails the all-time series, 3-5, but has won three straight, including last season's 20-17 victory in Williamsburg, Va. Maine hits the road for two-straight games, including showdowns with Stony Brook (Oct. 20) and Northeastern (Oct. 27). The battle with Stony Brook marks Maine's final non-conference game of the season, and it will be the first meeting between the two schools. The Black Bears have won three straight over Northeastern including a thorough 30-3 triumph last season in Orono. The Black Bears return to Alfond Stadium for their final two home games of the season on Nov. 3 versus Towson and Nov. 10 against Rhode Island. Maine leads the series with Towson 4-3. The Black Bears knocked off then-No. 17 Towson, 28-7, last season, which was Maine's first win over a nationally-ranked opponent in over two years. Maine will look to avenge last season's 3-0 loss in Kingston, R.I., when it takes on the Rams. The Black Bears lead the all-time series against URI by a margin of 48-34-3. The 2007 regular season will conclude on Nov. 17, as Maine and New Hampshire battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket in Durham, N.H. The game will be the 97th meeting in the series' storied rivalry. UNH has won four straight, including a 19-13 overtime win last season in Orono. Ticket information on the 2007 season will be coming soon. For information on Black Bear football, please visit the official website of Maine Athletics, www.GoBlackBears.com(.) 2007 SCHEDULE Date...Opponent...Site...Time Sept. 1...MONMOUTH...Orono, Maine...TBA Sept. 8...at Connecticut...Storrs, Conn....TBA Sept. 15...at Villanova*...Villanova, Pa....TBA Sept. 22...MASSACHUSETTS*...Orono, Maine...TBA Sept. 29 BYE Oct. 6...at Hofstra*...Hempstead, N.Y....TBA Oct. 13...WILLIAM & MARY*...Orono, Maine...TBA Oct. 20...at Stony Brook...Stony Brook, N.Y....TBA Oct. 27...at Northeastern*...Boston, Mass....TBA Nov. 3...TOWSON*...Orono, Maine...TBA Nov. 10...RHODE ISLAND*...Orono, Maine...TBA Nov. 17...at New Hampshire*...Durham, N.H....TBA Home games in ALL CAPS *-Denotes Colonial Athletic Association contest (CAA) Schedule subject to change
Schedule as of Feb. 20, 2007
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